The Ghostly Mystery of the Paulding Light
A railroad brakeman's ghost continues to wave his signal lantern to all who come to visit…
Every place, it seems, has its own ghosts and mysteries. So it is just north of the tiny Upper Peninsula town of Watersmeet.
For generations, people have gathered at the end of a gravel road to watch some mystery lights.
The Mystery of the Paulding Light
The lights appear nightly, year-round near a crossroads community in Michigan called Paulding. The first reported sightings were back in the 1960s and various investigations have been inconclusive.
Though a university team from a Michigan Technological University claimed the lights were from cars on a distant road and that they seemed to grow brighter and closer because of refraction. The Syfy Channel did its own paranormal investigation and said they could not find a scientific explanation.
The Legends of Paulding Light
Whatever, the Paulding Light is fraught with many different legends, the most popular appears to be the death of a railroad brakeman. The legend states that the valley once contained railroad tracks and the light is the lantern of the brakeman who was killed while attempting to stop an oncoming train from colliding with railway cars stopped on the tracks.
Another story claims the light is the ghost of a slain mail courier, while another says that it is the ghost of a Native American dancing on the power lines that run through the valley.
There's even an official US Forest Service marker at the site marking the spot. The light typically becomes visible an hour or so after sunset.
I spent an entire night there a while back on assignment for the Detroit Free Press, meeting people who had come from a wide region of Northwestern Michigan and Eastern Wisconsin and interviewing local people.
Check out the video below that I did and you can see the lights yourself…. and what I think they are.
There's lots of RV camping nearby in state and federal forests.
Other Great Articles About Michigan's UP
I may not have been impressed with the Paulding Light, but there's so much to love in the UP.
Michigan's Upper Peninsula is home to so many great destinations and adventures that Jennifer and I have a flurry of articles on it. Here are just a few to choose from:
- Awesome Camping in the UP: Michigan's Stunning Upper Peninsula
- 9 Best Events & Festivals in Northern Michigan
- 3 Amazing Destinations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
- 7 Awesome Attractions in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
And, of course, don't forget our Upper Peninsula RV Adventure Guide and Great Lakes Shoreline Tour…
Mike and Jennifer's Great Lakes Bundle – 2 ebooks!
This bundle is our popular Upper Peninsula RV Adventure Guide PLUS our newest Adventure Guide – The Great Lakes Shoreline Tour! Both ebooks will give you plenty of ideas and resources to enjoy this part of the US.
Mystery solved. http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2010/october/story32436.html
Just down the road from us, been there several times. Creepy, especially if there are wolves howling, or big game (deer, bear, etc) rustling in the brush. You can see the light only after dark.
Sounds like moody lane in francesville indiana
Theres a paulding county Georgia as well
Where??????
Been there saw that
Still looks interesting to visit! – http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2010/october/story32436.html
Nice Place to Go!
Scary im not going around it oh no not me never
Site, not sight!!!!
“The sight of his untimely death?” Shouldn’t that be “site”? This is a National Park Service sign! What is happening to the English language?!?!
Fine print…’made in China’
I wonder if there is methane in the area? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o%27-the-wisp
Similar story told at the Moonville tunnel in southern Ohio around Zaleski . Tunnel is still there.
A very good childhood trust and believe out of 40 chapters you will be in 15 of them in my book.
We did have a great childhood
Yeah, & Old Mill Rd.
Jon Morgan remember greenlight cemetery. Me in The back of the station wagon with Barbara pencil. Lmao and what we seen that night.
I think they did a special on the discovery channel about this. After all of the test, they found out that it was the traffic lights coming towards them from the road
Brian, people drive with their headlights on during the day, just watched a YouTube video on it, it’s obviously car lights because you have red lights (tail lights)going away from you and the white lights coming toward u and then disappearing into the trees when they get too far down the hill.
Check out the “Ghost of Gurdon” in Arkansas. Similar story. About 75 miles south of Little Rock.
Michigans Upper peninsula!
Paulding
Car lights
Nikki, remember I mentioned some cool stuff in the Michigan U.P.? This is one.. Near Watersmeet..
It is just over the border in Michigan upper peninsula
Nope not lights from cars on the highway. Explain why you can see it during the day! Have you actually seen it your self?
Go to youtube and watch a few video’s to find out the real story here.
It’s from cars on the highway.
Where is this place?